Portals We Must Watch
307
divine help and at the same time resolutely resist every inclination to
sin. By courage, by faith, by persevering toil, he can conquer. But let
him remember that to gain the victory Christ must abide in him and he
in Christ
Avoid Reading, Seeing, or Hearing Evil—The apostle [Peter]
sought to teach the believers how important it is to keep the mind from
wandering to forbidden themes or from spending its energies on trifling
subjects. Those who would not fall a prey to Satan’s devices must
guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or
hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts. The mind must not
be left to dwell at random upon every subject that the enemy of souls
may suggest. The heart must be faithfully sentineled, or evils without
will awaken evils within, and the soul will wander in darkness
Everything that can be done should be done to place ourselves and
our children where we shall not see the iniquity that is practiced in
the world. We should carefully guard the sight of our eyes and the
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hearing of our ears so that these awful things shall not enter our minds.
When the daily newspaper comes into the house, I feel as if I want to
hide it, that the ridiculous, sensational things in it may not be seen. It
seems as if the enemy is at the foundation of the publishing of many
things that appear in newspapers. Every sinful thing that can be found
is uncovered and laid bare before the world
Those who would have that wisdom which is from God must
become fools in the sinful knowledge of this age, in order to be wise.
They should shut their eyes, that they may see and learn no evil. They
should close their ears, lest they hear that which is evil and obtain that
knowledge which would stain their purity of thoughts and acts. And
they should guard their tongues, lest they utter corrupt communications
and guile be found in their mouths
Resistance Is Weakened by Opening the Door—Do not see how
close you can walk upon the brink of a precipice and be safe. Avoid
the first approach to danger. The soul’s interests cannot be trifled
with. Your capital is your character. Cherish it as you would a golden
treasure. Moral purity, self-respect, a strong power of resistance, must
11
Ibid., 5:47
.
12
The Acts of the Apostols, 518, 519
.
13
Notebook Leaflets from the Elmshaven Library, Education, Volume 1 (1845)
.
14
A Solemn Appeal, 76
.